Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen to Present ‘Illumina’

By Amy David, Special to the Henrico Citizen 11/18/10

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen will offer “Illumina,” a holiday exhibition of various traditional and non-traditional Christmas trees each with their own theme for families to enjoy starting Dec. 4 – Dec. 30.

The exhibit will showcase 16 trees on the first floor of the center, designed by Yvonne Hopkins, a local resident who offered to give her creations to the center for the public. The trees will have different colors, ornaments, lights and other items that make up a certain theme.

“This is our first time having something like this,” said Anita Waters, director of public relations and marketing for the center. “This event allows this woman to share her collection with the community, and it’s something everyone can enjoy.”

The exhibit will include a “Nostalgia Tree,” a multi-color rotating aluminum tree from the 1960s. A combination of music, clothing, sports, politics and other memorabilia will make up the tree to represent the time periods of the 1940s through the 60s.

A breast cancer awareness tree, called “The Hope Tree” will be on display as well. Families or individuals will have the opportunity to donate to the Cancer Foundation for Breast Cancer Research and receive a pink ribbon with their name, which will be hung on the tree.

A few other themes include “The Great Outdoors,” “True Colors,” a “Goodwill Tree,” a “Charlie Brown Tree” and “The Enchanted Tree,” which displays Disney characters.

“There are a wide variety of different themes, so there’s something for everybody,” Waters said.

The center usually draws about 500 people each Christmas for its annual Tree Lighting ceremony outside and other events, but this year officials hope attendees will stay for the exhibit.

“The county has a lot of Christmas holiday events, and so a lot of people will have the opportunity to see these trees,” said Waters.

Other traditional holiday exhibits, such as Chanukah and Kwanzaa will be on display in celebration of the event, a scavenger hunt will be held for children and families are asked to fill out a questionnaire and will be entered into a weekly prize drawing for the family with the most correct answers.

The event is free and will be held immediately following the tree lighting. The exhibition can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The center will be closed Dec. 24 - 27.

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Innsbrook After Hours continues its 32nd year with Motown hitmakers The Temptations and The Four Tops. Gates open at 5 p.m. Show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $20. Net proceeds from the concert series benefit the American Constitution Spirit Foundation and the Innsbrook Foundation. Rain or shine. For tickets and more information, call the IAH Hotline at 423-1779 or visit http://www.innsbrookafterhours.com.
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